Hi,

I read this gem on the Swissinfo site:

http://writeon.swissinfo.ch/?p=98#more-98

The blog entry concerns the authors experiences of socialising with the Swiss.

No doubt there is a danger of generalisations here; however, I do find there are some Swiss I speak English all the time to, and others I speak German all the time to - regardless of their ability in English.

I wonder what others experience.

Rgds,
Nick

Interesting story. In my opinion it would've been the host's job to break the ice but why did the guest fail to "flee" from the conversation for hours? Anyway, either the host didn't introduce his guests to each other, or he only offered orange juice, or both.

I am no native english speaker, so it probably does not really apply to me, but the language I speak to people is mostly force of habit.

There are people I started speaking german to from day one, and with whom I only speak german, unless someone who can't understand german is with us.
There are others who, despite being german mothertongue, spoke english to me from day one, therefore I never bothered speaking german to them.

I think the habit is critical towards understanding: I understand extremely well those with whom I always spoke german with, despite they come from the four corners of the german speaking area (swissgermans, austrians, south and northern germans) but just because my brain has adjusted to their accent. And all this in proper german only, obviously, as swissgerman is not for me. No no no.

Maybe his German is really crap and he doesn't realise it.

The project language at my place of work is english, given that there is a contingent of 80% foreigners from around the globe.

Whilst a decisive grouping has occurred where german is the language spoken during lunch breaks, aperos etc, this has proved to be quite a negative thing on the professional level. We are often called upon to present seminars in english. Those who have "practised" with the english speakers are leagues ahead in terms of articulation and pronounciation whilst those who don't are absolutely appalling.

All a bit embarassing given that these forums are attended by native english speakers from abroad.

Just another take, where english can be of great benefit to non-native speakers if they choose to interact socially.

Having a few english speaking friends, I have to admit that despite their occasional pleas to speak to them in (high-)german, I ususally egotistically revert to english.

i have been learning High German for 2 years (on and off)
I try to use it as often as i can but i realise the swiss people my age,either speak excellent english and/or they want to practice it with me.
I don't mind as I tell them i will answer them in Hoch Deutsch.
Last week i was with swiss friends and we spoke a mix of english, german and swiss german. at one point i couldn't tell the difference between the swiss german (zuri-deutsch) and the high german- i felt quite proud as i think subliminally i was probably understanding the zuri-deutsch!

I know many expats who speak crap german but have integrated very well. They use body language and humour for example. And others who have gone to classes to learn high german but are frustrated that many swiss prefer to speak english or swiss german, rather than high german. Thus they are discouraged when they feel the efforts they have put into learning high german hasn't helped them with "integrating"
anyway, my point is, that communication is much more than spoken language and i think integration is alot to do with your own efforts.

Having lived here 6 years, and endured 3 years of intensive Schriftdeutsch classes, I discovered that the real breakthrough in getting along with the Swiss is, (surprise surprise) talking Schwiiitzertütch. Once you've managed Schriftdeutsch, it's quite easy, a case of less is more.
Instructions:
1. Drop the Genitiv, and most of the tenses that you broke your balls learning, Swiss people talk 90% in the present.
2. Forget the pile-up of verbs at the end of sentences, this is very rarely done by a Swiss.
3. Speak German with a Welsh accent to get that lilting rhythmn, and those gutteral c's.
4. Use the diminutive wherever possible (and stick it onto the end of the most unlikely words), not the -en suffix used by Germans but -i.
5. Learn that gsi means gewesen, and mol means doch.
6. Throw 'mol', 'gal', 'eber' and 'scho' generously and randomly into sentences.

It's as simple as that, and the Swiss will beam upon you and comment on how good your German is.

Jim

If there ever was a "Schwiizerdüütsch in a nutshell ..."

how does one say that in deutsch/düütsch?

And don't forget to hold a hot potato in your mouth as you speak; or is that for speaking Danish....

Velofellow - top marks!! I've been here 8+ years and this was the easiest explanation to follow ever Any other snippets - keep 'em coming!!

For these reasons exactly I think trying to learn Swiss German is easier. They leave out a lot of the grammer and you can always swallow the "er" "ie" or "as" of der die and das to make it even easier.

Welsh .... or Arabic accent for the rasping, coughing, back roof of the mouth noise.

I call it Arab Deutsch.

So you learn High German for a year or two to an adequate level, then Swiss German (often taught to semi official Berne version), then Zurich German and because of the non-authentic accent, many of the Swiss reverts to safe English.

Why bother unless you intend to stay for over 5 years, marry into a Swiss family or move outside Zurich? It just seems.....

Back to the original posting, Engli-Deutsch?

I think:
"Du hesch dini Eier kaputt gmacht!"
- or is that a bit too literal...???